Compassion fatigue in veterinarians: A structural model

Veterinary professionals are a population susceptible to compassion fatigue. While some risk factors have been identified, few studies have focused on protective factors, which may include self-care behaviors. The objective of this study was to evaluate a structural model to explain compassion fatigue, incorporating self-care behaviors and stressors. A total of 438 Latino veterinarians participated in the study. The main results indicated high levels of compassion fatigue. The final structural model revealed that stressors impacting compassion fatigue included negative interactions between work and home, responsibility burden, emotional demands, and issues with clients. Among self-care behaviors, recreational activities conducted with family or friends had a significant effect on the model, although future studies should confirm their mediating role on the effects of stressors on compassion fatigue. No self-care behavior was identified that mitigated the effects of emotional demands and client-related issues. The study underscores the importance of educating veterinarians about compassion fatigue, enabling them to timely recognize symptoms and seek the necessary support for treatment.